Recyclable Food Package

ABSTRACT

A recyclable food package has a body, a bottom board and a top roof. The body has two opposite first sidewalls and two opposite second sidewalls to form an internal accommodating space. The bottom board is mounted on a bottom of the body and has two horizontal folding lines connected to each other. The top roof is mounted on a top of the body. The horizontal folding lines facilitate squashing the recyclable food package.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a food package, and more particularlyto a recyclable food package that is capable of being completelysquashed and flattened to minimize the volume thereof and facilitatestacking and transportation in the post recycling processes.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventional paper-made food packages such as Tetra Pak™ type milkboxes, after used, are usually classified into recyclable paper garbagefor recycling. To recycle the aforementioned food packages, each foodpackage is squashed and flattened to facilitate transporting the foodpackages and increase recycling efficiency.

The aforementioned food package has no assistant components for thesquashing process. Therefore, to squash the food package, a user musttry hard to force and depress two opposite sides of the food package andthen force a front surface to abut a rear surface of the package so thatthe food package is changed to a thinner configuration. The incompletelysquashed food packages with bulging parts cannot be entirely stackedtogether, which disadvantages transportation in recycling processes.

However, the user does not always successfully squash a food packageinto a completely flattened configuration and certain parts on the foodpackage remain bulging.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides arecyclable food package to mitigate or obviate the aforementionedproblems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a recyclable foodpackage that is capable of being completely squashed and flattened tominimize the volume thereof and facilitate stacking and transportationin the post recycling processes.

A recyclable food package in accordance with the present application hasa body, a bottom board and a top roof The body has two opposite firstsidewalls and two opposite second sidewalls to form an internalaccommodating space. The bottom board is mounted on a bottom of the bodyand has two horizontal folding lines connected to each other. The toproof is mounted on a top of the body. The horizontal folding linesfacilitate squashing the recyclable food package.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a recyclable foodpackage in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an operational perspective view of the recyclable food packagein FIG. 1 squashed completely with a bottom protruding outward;

FIG. 3 is an operational perspective view of the recyclable food packagein FIG. 1 squashed completely with a bottom protruding inward;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the recyclable food package in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the recyclable food package in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an operational side view of the recyclable food package inFIG. 4 squashed halfway;

FIG. 7 is an operational bottom view of the recyclable food package inFIG. 5 squashed halfway;

FIG. 8 is an operational side view of the recyclable food package inFIG. 6 squashed completely;

FIG. 9 is an operational bottom view of the recyclable food package inFIG. 7 squashed completely;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the recyclablefood package in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the recyclable foodpackage in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is another enlarged perspective view of a part of the recyclablefood package with a mouth detached.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, a first embodiment of a recyclable foodpackage in accordance with the present invention comprises a body 10, abottom board 20, a top roof 30 and a mouth assembly 40.

The body 10 is hollow and has a top, a bottom, two opposite firstsidewalls 11, two opposite second sidewalls 12, two upper forcing pointsB and may further have two vertical folding lines 15.

The first sidewalls 11 and the second sidewalls 12 cooperate to definean internal accommodating space 100.

The two upper forcing points B are formed respectively on two top edgesof the second sidewalls 12.

The vertical folding lines 15 are formed respectively on the secondsidewalls 12 and each vertical folding line 15 has a bottom end and atop end, the top end located on one of the upper forcing points B.

The bottom board 20 is mounted on the bottom of the body 10, closes theinternal accommodating space 100 and has two lower forcing points A andtwo horizontal folding lines 25.

The lower forcing points A are formed respectively on two opposite edgesof the bottom board 20.

The horizontal folding lines 25 are connected to each other and maycorrespond to the vertical folding lines 15 and be connectedrespectively to the bottom ends of the vertical folding lines 15. Eachhorizontal folding line 25 has an inside end and an outside end. Theinside ends of the horizontal folding lines 25 are connected to eachother. Each outside end is located on one of the lower forcing points Aand may be connected to the bottom end of a corresponding verticalfolding line 15.

Furthermore, the bottom board 20 may further have two intersectingdiagonal lines to define two opposite triangular lapping surfaces 22 andtwo triangular non-lapping surfaces 21. The non-lapping surfaces 21correspond to the horizontal folding lines 25 and the lower forcingpoints A. Each non-lapping surface 21 has a thickness being thinner thanthat of each lapping surface 22 so that the non-lapping surface 21 iseasier to be folded than the lapping surface 22.

The top roof 30 is triangular and prism-like, is mounted on the top ofthe body 10, closes the internal accommodating space 100, has twoopposite first surfaces 31 and two opposite second surfaces 32, and mayfurther have two inclined folding lines 35 and an outlet hole 33. Thefirst surfaces 31 correspond to the first sidewalls 11. The secondsurfaces 32 correspond to the second sidewalls 12 and correspond to thehorizontal folding lines 25. The inclined folding lines 35 are formedrespectively on the second surfaces 32 and may be connected respectivelyto the top ends of the vertical folding lines 15. The outlet hole 33 isdefined through one of the first surfaces 31. Furthermore, an outeradhering area 330 is defined on one of the first surfaces 31 around theoutlet hole 33.

The mouth assembly 40 is mounted on the outer adhering area 330 of thefirst surface 31 and communicates with the outlet hole 33 and has amouth member and a cap. The mouth member is cylindrical, threaded andmounted on the outlet hole 33. The cap is detachably screwed on themouth member.

With further reference to FIGS. 4 to 9, when the recyclable food packageis squashed, a user presses the lower forcing points A on the outsideends of the horizontal folding lines. At the mean time, the thicknessdifference between the lapping surfaces 22 and the non-lapping surfaces21 generates two intersecting natural folding lines along the diagonallines on the bottom board 20. The lapping surfaces 22 are moved towardand abut each other to fold and flatten the bottom board 20. The pressedoutside ends of the horizontal folding lines 25 cause the secondsidewalls 12 of the body 10 to be depressed. Then, further pressing theupper forcing points B generates natural vertical folding linesrespectively on the second sidewalls 12 of the body 10 and causes thesecond surfaces 32 of the top roof 30 to be depressed and folded. Thefirst sidewalls 11 of the body 10 are moved toward and abut each otherto flatten the body 10. Therefore, the recyclable food package can becompletely squashed conveniently. Alternatively, the vertical foldinglines 15 and the inclined folding lines 35 facilitate quickly foldingthe second sidewalls 12 of the body 10 and the second surfaces 32 of thetop roof 30.

With further reference to FIGS. 10 to 12, a second embodiment of therecyclable food package further has a removal member 50 mounted on themouth member to easily remove the mouth assembly 40, and the removalmember 50 has a mounting collar 51 and a pulling tab 52.

The mounting collar 51 is mounted securely around the mouth member.

The pulling tab 52 is formed on and protrudes radially from the mountingcollar 51 and has a finger hole 521 defined through the pulling tab 52so that a user may quickly remove the mouth assembly 40 by pulling thepulling tab 52. With the removal member 50, the recyclable food packagecan be squashed and flattened completely.

In a preferred embodiment, the horizontal folding lines 25, the verticalfolding lines 15 and the inclined folding lines 35 may be continuous ordiscontinuous stamped lines or cut lines formed by a stamp machine or acutting machine.

The recyclable food package of the present invention has the followingadvantages.

1. The horizontal lines 25, the vertical folding lines 15, or theinclined folding lines 35 allow a user to conveniently and completelysquash the bottom board 20, the body 10 and the top roof 30 of therecyclable food package without any bulging parts.

2. The removal member 50 ensures that the squashed recyclable foodpackages can be stacked for storage or transportation in later recyclingprocesses.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the presentinvention have been set forth in the foregoing description, togetherwith details of the structure and function of the invention, thedisclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details,especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts withinthe principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by thebroad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims areexpressed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A recyclable food package comprising: a bodybeing hollow and having a top, a bottom, two opposite first sidewallsand two opposite second sidewalls, the first sidewalls and the secondsidewalls cooperating to define an internal accommodating space; and abottom board mounted on the bottom of the body, closing the internalaccommodating space and having two lower forcing points formedrespectively on two opposite edges of the bottom board; and twohorizontal folding lines connected to each other, and each horizontalfolding line having an inside end, the inside ends of the horizontalfolding lines connected to each other; and an outside end located on oneof the lower forcing points; and a top roof mounted on the top of thebody, closing the internal accommodating space and having two oppositefirst surfaces corresponding to the first sidewalls; and two oppositesecond surfaces corresponding to the second sidewalls; wherein to squashthe recyclable food package, the lower forcing points on the horizontalfolding lines are pressed, the bottom is folded and flattened, and thefirst sidewalls of the body are moved toward and abut each other toflatten the body.
 2. The recyclable food package as claimed in claim 1,wherein the bottom board further has two intersecting diagonal lines todefine two opposite triangular lapping surfaces and two triangularnon-lapping surfaces; the non-lapping surfaces correspond to thehorizontal folding lines and the lower forcing points; and when therecyclable food package is squashed, the lapping surfaces are movedtoward and abut each other.
 3. The recyclable food package as claimed inclaim 2, wherein the body further has two upper forcing points formedrespectively on two top edges of the second sidewalls; and two verticalfolding lines formed respectively on the second sidewalls and eachvertical folding line having a bottom end and a top end, the top endlocated on one of the upper forcing points; the horizontal folding linescorrespond to the vertical folding lines and are connected respectivelyto the bottom ends of the vertical folding lines, and the outside end ofeach horizontal folding line is connected to the bottom end of acorresponding vertical folding line.
 4. The recyclable food package asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the top roof further has two inclinedfolding lines formed respectively on the second surfaces and connectedrespectively to the top ends of the vertical folding lines.
 5. Therecyclable food package as claimed in claim 4, wherein an outlet hole isdefined through one of the first surfaces of the top roof.
 6. Therecyclable food package as claimed in claim 5, wherein a mouth assemblyis mounted on one of the first surfaces of the top roof, communicateswith the outlet hole and has a mouth member and a cap detachably mountedon the mouth member.
 7. The recyclable food package as claimed in claim6, wherein a removal member is mounted on the mouth member and has amounting collar mounted securely around the mouth member; and a pullingtab formed on and protruding radially from the mounting collar andhaving a finger hole defined through the pulling tab.
 8. The recyclablefood package as claimed in claim 7, wherein the horizontal foldinglines, the vertical folding lines and the inclined folding lines arecontinuous stamped lines.
 9. The recyclable food package as claimed inclaim 7, wherein the horizontal folding lines, the vertical foldinglines and the inclined folding lines are discontinuous stamped lines.10. The recyclable food package as claimed in claim 7, wherein thehorizontal folding lines, the vertical folding lines and the inclinedfolding lines are continuous cut lines.
 11. The recyclable food packageas claimed in claim 7, wherein the horizontal folding lines, thevertical folding lines and the inclined folding lines are discontinuouscut lines.
 12. The recyclable food package as claimed in claim 7,wherein each non-lapping surface has a thickness being thinner than athickness of each lapping surface.